Bucket



Oct. 23, 1928.

H. S. ATKINSON BUCKET Filed Nov. 6, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet l llLl I l I I l I I I l I o ll ivwl l1 lllllllv |l NVEN dli ATTORNEYS Oct. 23, 1928. 1,688,324,

H. S. ATKINSON BUCKET Filed Nov. 6, 1925 a Sheds-Sheet 2 Patented Get. 23, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERBERT S. ATKINSON, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE HAYWARD COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

BUCKET.

Application filed November 6, 1925.

This invention relates generally to improvements in buckets, but more specifically to an electric scraper bucket of the clam-shell type.

My improved scraper bucket has been es pecially designed for handling soft molding sand in foundries, wherein a considerable quantity by. sand is scattered over the floor after the molds have been broken up, said handling being in the nature of a clean-up operation whereby the molding sand is arranged into heaps or windrows to await the action of a sand cutter.

I-leretofore, manual gathering of the sand in smaller foundries, or the use of clam-shell buckets in larger foundries, have been re sorted to, but in either case, the results have not altogether been satisfactory in view of the-waste "of time and labor attending the first method, and lack of adaptability of the usual clam-shell bucket in the latter method.

Obviously a specially designed device is required for this class of work and must em brace features which will permit the bowl sections thereof to open up to an extent much greater than the ordinary bucket in order that a relatively large area of the molding mate rial may be handled atone operation, and further to provide means to prevent digging into the usual clay floor during the closing of said bowl sections.

My invention comprehends the inclusion of these features in a clean-u bucket, which may be readily transported to the seat of activities and there efliciently operated without the exercise of any extraordinary skill on the part of the operator.

A further object resides in the provision of a bucket embracing electrically operated closing and opening means, the eo-acting elements thereof being positioned to obviate any danger of contact with the gritty material handled.

Another object of my invention is to provide bowl sections particularly adapted by location andconfiguration to handle and prepare the mass of san d for the cutting and mixing operation.

With these objects in view the invention consists in the novel construction, and arrangement of parts, hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changesin the form. proportions, size and minor details of construction may be made within the scope of the appended claims with- Serial No. 67,239.

out departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved scraper or clean-up bucket in closed position.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same as viewed from the right of Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 is a view like unto Fig. 1, but showing the bucket suspended and in'open position.

In the example of my invention, illustrated in the drawings, the numeral 5 indicates generally the clean-up bucket, composed of substantially similar sections 6 and 7, and having their upper ends pivotally supported as indicated at 8.

The structural arrangement of these sections has been designed to produce a relatively light-weight device, yet without sacriicing any of the details looking toward the production of a rigid'and strong bucket.

To this end I provide a skeleton framework for each section which comprises the parallelly disposedsi'de members 9 and 10, angular in cross-section, the transverse member 11, secured to said members by means of plates 12 and 13, and diagonal struts 14, 15, 16 and 17,

having one of their ends secured to the plate 18, and their other ends secured to the plates.

19, 20, 21 and 22 respectively, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The sides of each section comprises the sheet material 23 and 24 and filler pieces 25 and 26, the companion filler pieces in each section being disposed in overlapping relation, (see Fig. 1) and having their upper ends apertured for the reception of pintles 27 extending from blocks 28, secured to the eX-' tremities of the transverse channel-members 29. The marginal edges of each section may be reinforced by means of straps 30 and 31, as indicated in Fig. 1. I

As will presently appear the lower portions only of the sections engage the molding sand, and obviously the major portion of their rear portions may be left open, thus affording easy accessibility to the operating mechanismof the bucket. 7

From the foregoing it is manifest that my clean-up bucket comprises two relatively light bowl sections, having a very long radial swing, the lower portions comprising the bowls being inclosed by the side plates 23 and 24- and'the narrow plates 32 forming the rear of saidbowls. As observed in Fig. 3 the sections are sufficiently long to permit the bucket to open and embrace a relatively large exwhen the current is turned pause of molding sand, and since the bucket is not intended to transport the sand from place to place, the front edges of said bowls are cut away, as indicated at 33, thus forming a V-shaped opening, (see Fig. l) and permitting the formation of a sand pile.

The operating mechanism of my bucket, denoted generally by the numeral 34, is suspended therein through the medium of a supporting head 35, carrying a pair of sheaves 36 and 37, suitably journalled in brackets 38. Flexible elements in the form of wire ropes 39, secured to the lower edge of the channel members 29, by means ofbraclc ets 40, extend downwardly and around the sheaves 36 and 37, thence up to and through said channel-members for attachment to a triangular yoke all. This yoke is of suflicient size to receive the hook of a supporting overhead crane from which the bucket may be suspended while being moved from place to place along the floor of the foundry, or while being opened.

Said supporting head 34 is provided with ears 4l2 and 413, pivot-ally carrying thrustrods a4 and 45 respectively, the outer ends thereof being pivotally supported on transverse rods 46 and 47, as clearly shown in Figure l.

The operating mechanism 3% comprises an electrically driven motor 48, and is in direct drive with a winding drum 4L9. Said winding drum incloses a slip friction clutch of the same type and design as described in my Patent No. 1,056,248, for an electric clamshell bucket, and embodies a series of, discs keyed alternately to the shell and to the hub of the drum and held in contact with suf- 'ficient force to permit the bucket to be closed,

but when it is closed the clutch slips and permits the motor to continue its rotation. The operating mechanism is further equipped with a magnetic brake to lock the mechanism against movement at all times when the current is off .and is released automatically on to open or close the bucket.

Continuing now. with the description of the operating means, it will be observed on inspection of the drawings that said winding drum 49 is provided with diametrically opposed ea-rs 50, which latter are operatively connected with the link chains 1 which extend outwardly and over rollers 52 and thence to lugs 53 on said casing or supporting head 34. Said rollers 52 are suitably journalled in brackets 54 rotatably mounted on studs 55. It should be noted that said chains 51 are oppositely wound on said drum 49, so that rotation thereof in one direction or the other causes said chains to be paid in or out during the opening and closing of said bucket.

Positioned at the extreme lower edge 56 of the bucket sections are guide runners 57 which are designed to present a sliding sur face to the clay floor of the foundry during the closing of the bucket and have sufficient bearing area to support said lower or cutting edge 56 upon said floor and thus prevent any digging up of the clay. These runners 57 further permit the cutting edge to maintain a position adjacent and parallel to the floor at all times. This is a feature of some importance.

The foregoing description covers the essential elements of my clean-up bucket, and when further considered in the light of the following explanation of its operation, it is thought the efficiency and commercial value of my invention will at once become apparent.

In said operation the bucket is suspended upon the opening lines 39 in the air, hanging freely upon the crane hook 58. When the bucket is lifted on this hook, the lines 39 are under stress. Electric current is applied to the motor by means of the wire 59 from. a controller located in the operators cab on the crane. The rotation of the windingdrum pays out the winding chains and the bucket descends upon the lines 39 and the thrust-rods 4a and 45, from which the closing unit is suspended, force the bucketshells outwardly until they lie open to their fullest extent, as shown in Fig. 3, whereupon the bucket is lowered upon the sand-covered floor. Upon a reversal of the controller the winding drunr begins the wind-up of the closing chains, meanwhile lowering the crane block to obviate tension upon the opening lines. The chains now wind upon the drum, forcing the two bowl sections together upon the sand, as indicated in Fig. 1. The current is now shut off from the motor and the bucket lifted on the opening lines, causing the sand to run out of the inclined portions of said bowl sections. and leaving a pile of the shape desired. The bucket may now be opened and moved over to a position adjacent to the out already made and the process is continued until the entire floor is cleaned up and the piles are formed as desired. In this piled condition the sand readily acted upon by the sand cutter and after suiiicient churning becomes a light and wellmixed mass suitable for use in making molds for castings.

I claim:

1. In a bucket, the combination of a plurality of bowl sections pivotally mounted with respect to each other, operating mechanism suspended within said bucket, a sup port for said operating mechanism, flexible means for raising and lowering said operating mechanism, flexible members adapted to co-act with said operating means having connection therewith and said support, and pivotal means connecting said bowl sections to the opposite sides of said support.

2. In a bucket, the combination of a p1ulit) rality of bowl sections pivotally mounted, a cross member connecting their pivotal points, flexible means secured to said cross member, electrically-operated operating mechanism positioned within said bucket, a support for said operating mechanism operatively con nected to said flexible means and having oppositely directed ears, flexible means for raising and lowering said operating mechanism. a flexible member adapted to co-act with said operating means having connection therewith and said support, and pivotally supported means operatively connecting said bowl sections to the earsof said support.

3. In a bucket, the combination 01'? a pair of pivoted bowl sections having their lower portions cut away to define a relatively large side opening therebetween, winding means suspended within said bucket, a support for said winding means, rods, pivotally connecting said support with said buckets, said rods having their inner ends connected to said support at diametric points, and flexible means extending centrally across said bucket and having one of their ends operatively connected to said winding means and their other ends connected to said support.

4. In a bucket, the combination of a pair of pivoted bowl sections, pivoted to permit a relatively large leverage to said sections, anti-digging means comprising transverse runners having their bottom surfaces flush with the cutting edges of said bowl sections, win ding means suspended within said bucket and flexible means for closing said sections during the descent of said winding means.

5. A clean-up bucket comprising a plurality of pivoted bowl sections, said sections being cut away adjacent the base of said bucket to define side openings, electrically driven operating mechanism suspended between said sections, flexible means operatively connecting said operating mechanism to said sections for the purpose specified.

6. A clean-up bucket comprising a plurality of pivoted bowl sections, said sections being cut away adjacent the base of said bucket to define side openings therein, a cross member connecting said sections at their pivotal axis, electrically driven operating mechanism, flexible means for supporting said. operating mechanism, pivotal connections between said operating mechanism and said sections and flexible means operatively connected to said mechanism for opening and closing said sections. 7

7. A clean-up bucket comprising a plurality of pivoted bowl sections, said sections being cut away adjacent the base of said bucket to define relatively large side openings therein, a cross member connecting said sections at their pivotal axis, electrically driven operating mechanism, a support for said mechanism, a flexible connection between said cross-member and said supporting means, chains operatively connected to said operating mechanism and said support and pivotal connections between said support and said sections.

8. A clean-up bucket comprising a pair of pivoted bowl sections having their base portions cut away to define relatively large side openings therein, a cross member arranged within the pivotal axis of said sections, an electrically driven winding drum mounted within said sections, a support for said drum, flexible means depending from said crossmember for suspending said Winding drum and adapted to be connected to a crane, chains operatively connected to said drum and said support, rotatable members intermediate the ends of said chains and links pivotally connected to said support and said sections.

9. A clean-up bucket comprising a pair of pivoted bowl sections having their base portions cut away to define substantially V- shaped side openings, runners transversely disposed at the base angles of said openings, an electrically driven winding drum suspended within said bucket, a shiftable sup port for said drum, chains operatively connected to said drum and support, bracketed rollers intermediate the ends of said chains, pivotal supporting means for said bracketed rollers and links pivotally connected to said support and said sect-ions.

10. A clean-up bucket comprising a pair of similar pivoted bowl sections having their base portions cut away to define substantially V-shaped side openings therein, transverse runners positioned at the cutting edges of said sections defined by said openings, electrically driven operating means, suspended in said bucket and means coacting with said operating means to close said sections during the descent of said operating means.

11. A clean-up bucket'comprising a pair of elongated pivoted bowl sections having their lower portions cut away to define a relatively large side opening therebetween, anti-digging means connected to the cutting edges of said sections, and means for opening and closing said sections.

HERBERT S. ATKINSON. 

